Swedish yachts took top nine positions in Baltic Classic Masters

2016-09-02

Baltic Classic Masters at Sandhamn in August became a primarily Swedish racing affair with 27 Swedish yachts, three Finnish, one Russian, one Belgian and one British. The 30 sq m Pani won, with 75 sq m Trumph second and 95 sq m Marga third. The best visiting yacht was Russian L6 offshore cruiser Nika, who finished 10th. The best Finnish yacht was offshore cruiser Kersti.

Nevertheless, the Baltic Classic Masters had the best turnout ever with 33 yachts participating. Unfortunately, an additional two Finnish yachts could not make it to Sandhamn because of gale-force winds preceeding the event. Fortunately 8mR Vågspel and 10mR Kitty had crossed in good time and contributed together with Kersti, Varen (UK) and Nika to give the event an international athmospere of fun and racing, which was very much appreciated by all and not the least the organizing yacht club KSSS and Sail Yacht Society of Sweden.

The comparatively small 30 sq m Pani did very well in the quite windy three race that were partly exposed to open seas. Pani was sailed double handed by Janne and Max Nystedt. Pani was designed by Erik Nilsson in 1937.

Janne and Max Nystedt with the GL Watson Trophy.

Trumph had an improved rig configuration which for the first time ever allowed for a spinnacker and a genua. Trumph was designed by Gustaf Estlander and built 1921. Se was sailed by members of the Swahn family. The yacht was acquired by the grandfather of the present skipper Magnus Swahn in the late 1920's.

95 sq m Marga, designed by Tore Holm an built 1921, raced her first season for more than 50 years and has gone through a 17 year long total restoration. She was sailed by the Widstrand family, who won last years Baltic Classic Masters in Turku with 55 sq m Mirand

The Baltic Classic Masters was held for the 7th year and this time it was hosted by the Royal Swedish Yacht Club, KSSS.

Photo Malcolm Hanes

Marga won the 2017 Baltic Classic Masters - first in two regattas and second in one

2017-08-14

The 95 sq m Marga won the Baltic Classic Master Cup 2017, finishing up with a victory in the classic class of Sandhamnsregattan by Bluewater at Sandhamn Sweden. Marga won the first day’s race, finished fourth the second day and second the third day. Marga was skippered by Mia Widstrand. Her husband Henrik and their two boys are other members of the crew.

Marga raced three Baltic Classic Master regattas, ÅF Offshore Race in Sweden, Finland’s 100 Anniversary Regatta in Turku (Åbo) and Sandhamn. She won two of the regattas, Turku and Sandhamn and finished second in the Offshore Race. It is the second time the Widstrand family has won the Cup. A few years ago they won in the 55 sq m Miranda. Marga belongs to Stockholms Segelklubb, the Stockholm sailing club.

Marga's skipper Mia Widstrand kissing the Cup. Photo Bobby Cyrus.

The 75 sq m Bacchant finished second in the Cup. She was third in ÅFOR Classic and the Helsinki Champagne regatta and number 13 at Sandhamn. The captain is Magnus Adlercreutz of the Royal Swedish Yacht Club, KSSS.

The offshore cruiser Friendship II from Porvoo (Borgå) in Finland took the third place in the Cup after racing in ÅF Offshore Race plus the regattas in Turku and Helsinki. Friendship II is skippered by Hilding Mattsson of Nyländska Jaktklubben, NJK.

The Baltic Classic Master Cup with a pitcher to the right. Photo Malcolm Hanes

The Baltic Classic Master Cup is a challenge cup set up by GL Watson the oldest yacht design company in the world. The top three medal winners were also awarded a glass pitcher “10 degrees” to keep. It is designed by the classic sailor and glass artist Lars Sestervik. Latvia Classic Shipyard had donated the pitchers.

The cup rules had beenmodified this year and required that yachts raced at least one regatta in each country, Finland and Sweden. This reduced the number of contenders since for some reason very few yachts did cross the Sea of Åland. Two years ago 15 Swedish yachts raced in Turku and a few Finish yachts in the Swedish regattas. This year 17 yachts raced in Turku and 27 in Sandhamn, compared to 14 in ÅFOR Classic and only six in Helsinki.

Invitation Baltic Classic Master Cup

Take a look at the wonderful classic regattas at Stockholm, Turku, Finland, Helsinki and Sandhamn, Sweden. Come and join us in the races for the Baltic Classic Master Cup!

SK150 Beatrice Aurore in the Sandhamn Regatta

Baltic Classic Circuit back again in 2017 with four international regattas

2016-11-29

The Baltic Classic Master Cup 2017 will be a circuit again with four international regattas in Sweden and Finland, two in each country. The cup started in 2010 as a multievent circut but the format was too ambitious and the turnout dwindled with just a handful of yachts participating in more than one or two regattas. Now, after two very successful single-event classic regattas with 30 yachts racing in Turku, Finland, in 2015 and 35 at Sandhamn, Sweden in 2016, SCYT and three yachts clubs have now decided to relaunch the Baltic Classic Circuit in 2017.
The clubs are the Royal Swedish Yacht Club, KSSS, Airisto Yacht Club, ASS, in Turku, Finland, and Helsinki Yacht Club, HSS, in Finland